Was in MEM this past weekend. Even during the early morning DL bank, there was very little automobile drop off/pick up activity out front. I was surprised how few people were there. I think Delta's service cuts, plus high airfares are putting the airport there in a downward spiral for lower passenger numbers and more cuts.

Quoting SW733 (Reply 1):25 flights, but only one destination being elimated...and a very close one (geographically) at that.

It's one out of every 6 DL flights. Kind of significant...I said months ago when they announced AMS would be "seasonally" suspended that it was a harbinger of a huge cut and got the usual fanboy responses that I was crazy.

Quoting iahworldflyer (Reply 2):I think Delta's service cuts, plus high airfares are putting the airport there in a downward spiral for lower passenger numbers and more cuts.

Passengers are complaining about fares, not flights...so far.

Quoting dcaviation (Reply 3):So where are the people that before the merger were saying that MEM will become ATL reliever?

So, when is the effective date of these cuts? The article doesn't say and res still shows flights a flight to FSM as of October. Right now there are 2x daily MEM-FSM and 1x daily ATL-FSM. In October (according to Delta.com) that changes to 1 out of MEM and 2 out of ATL.

"A committee is a group of the unprepared, appointed by the unwilling, to do the unnecessary"----Fred Allen

Quoting izbtmnhd (Reply 15):Economics of a largely O&D hub? It would be better to say that geography is working against CLE, not economics.

Whichever the reason, in the end, the numbers will force UA to determine the fate of CLE.
It's not only up to UA really. They need to stay competitive as well. Looks to me like DL is a leader in cost cutting and finding further efficiencies from the merger. UA is a ways behind. But it is bound to happen.

Question Conventional Wisdom. While not all commonly held beliefs are wrong…all should be questioned.

Quoting peanuts (Reply 21):Looks to me like DL is a leader in cost cutting and finding further efficiencies from the merger. UA is a ways behind. But it is bound to happen.

DL started from a weaker position as far as hub cities and 50 seat operations, though UA probably also has too many 50 seaters. But the reduction in Saab flying as well as possibly growth of the DH4 fleet with YX will help keep more current 50 seater routes flying, I think.